Page 5 of Longest Ride

“I don’t want Tammy saying she’s going to marry that guy. She ain’t known him a fuckin week. Understand what I’m saying?”

“Sure do,” said Annie. “Tammy is strong-willed. She didn’t come home for a reason and Eldon Fontana might be a big part of that reason.”

“I don’t want him to be the reason,” mumbled Travis.

Annie smiled. “If Tammy has her mind made up, it will take some doing to change it. I’m sure you’re well aware of her stubborn streak.” Annie laughed. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think she got that from you, but I was married to Jackson Traynor and I know exactly where that mule-headedness came from. Jackson got it from his father, Stan Traynor—scum of the earth—and now Tammy has that same stubborn recklessness that could get her into a lot of trouble.”

Travis stared. “You trying to cheer me up?”

The girls made a big breakfast for all of us and while we drank coffee, Dad said something that surprised me. “We’re leaving forhome this morning, boys. Annie will stay here with Lucy and sort Tammy out.”

“You’re not coming home with us?” asked Virge.

“Not yet,” said Tammy. “I can’t go yet.”

“But you are coming home, right?” I looked her in the eye.

“I’m not sure of anything right now, Harlan. I have to talk to Eldon to get my head straight and I can’t do that until he wakes up.”

Travis looked like he had a lot to say to Tammy, but he pushed it down inside of him and didn’t say a word.

Anne smiled at Travis and gave him a friendly nod, like they had talked this out already. Seemed like Annie could make my dad do most anything she wanted him to do. Huh.

Me and Virge got ready to go and one of us had to drive the bounty hunter’s Jeep. Old and dirty and like a garbage dump inside, no fuckin air freshers could cut the stink of it. Wrappers and beer cans and take-out containers all smashed up and tossed in the footwell. The ashtray was overflowing with butts and the air inside smelled like a nicotine factory.

“Who’s driving the Jeep?” hollered Travis.

“I’ll do it,” said Virge.

“Go with him, Harlan. Follow me. We’ll clean up the mess as we go. We can’t trade it in looking like that.”

“Copy that, Dad.”

Annie, Tammy, and Lucy hugged all of us before we jumped into the trucks and left for home. I had a sick feeling like I might never see them again.

I told Virge how I felt, and he said I was being a wussy asshole and I had to agree, but the feeling was still there.

As soon as the boys drove out the lane, Tammy wanted to go to the hospital to see Eldon.

“It’s a little early,” said Annie. “The doctor said to come after two. That’s the earliest Eldon would be awake.”

“I can wait a little bit, Mama. I’m just worried he’ll be looking for me when he opens his eyes, and I won’t be there.”

Annie smiled and gave Tammy a hug. “I understand how you feel, but before we leave, I want to make a shopping list. We’ll need more of everything if we’re staying here for another week or so.”

“Great idea,” said Tammy. “I only shopped once since I’ve been here.” She started to cry. “I’m glad Travis is gone, Mama. Did you see the way he was looking at me?”

“He’s worried about you, honey. That’s all it is. He loves you so much and he’s been worried sick that he’d never find you.”

“I couldn’t go home after those guys beat on me and raped me all over again. I knew how Harlan and Virge would look at me and I couldn’t take it.”

“You’ll feel better in time,” said Annie. “You suffered a traumatic experience, and those things don’t disappear overnight. In time, it will fade, and you won’t ever forget it, but the memory will be less painful when it comes around.”

“I want it to fade, Mama. It’s still in my head every day and I can barely stand it. Bad things happened to Eldon too, and that’s why we’re the perfect couple.”

For the time being, Annie was keeping the truth about Eldon Fontana—Bobby Prescott—to herself while she figured out a plan for Tammy.

Golden British Columbia.

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